ARC Review: The Girl Guide by Christine Fonseca

The Girl Guide:

Finding Your Place in a 

Mixed-Up World

by Christine Fonseca

Publisher: Prufrock Press, Inc.

Expected Publication Date: April 2013

**Print ARC Obtained Directly from the Author/Publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Synopsis via Goodreads:

Finding your unique voice in a noisy world can be hard—very hard. But not if you have a great guide! The Girl Guide: Finding Your Place in a Mixed-Up World is a must-read for girls in grades 6–8 as they enter the tumultuous world of adolescence. Packed with fun worksheets and quizzes, as well as stories from older girls and women, The Girl Guide covers everything a teenage girl needs to know on the journey toward her own identity. Proven strategies for dealing with stress management, confronting relational aggression, being safe online, navigating the changing mother-daughter relationship, and more make this the ultimate guide for any girl to get through the teen years and discover her unique point of view in the world.

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About the Author:

Critically acclaimed nonfiction and YA author Christine Fonseca is dedicated to helping children of all ages find their voice in the world. Drawing on her expertise as an educational psychologist, her nonfiction titles address issues of emotional intensity, resiliency and giftedness. In fiction, she explores the darker aspects of humanity and delivers gothic thrillers that take you on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. In life, she teaches her own children to embrace their unique talents and find their voice by being a force of positive change in the world. When she’s not writing or developing programs to support children with exceptional needs, she can be found spending time with her family, sipping too many skinny vanilla lattes at her favorite coffee house or playing around on Facebook and Twitter.

Connect with the Author:   Website   Goodreads   Twitter

My Review:

Wow. This could be such a great tool for young girls if used the way it's meant to be used. I grew up on "Chicken Soup For the ____ Soul" books... This is kinda that "type" of book but more modern, and to me, more useful. I tried to put myself in the place of my 14 year old niece while I was reading and thinking about this book. (I almost want to call it a workbook because it's not just a plain book LOL). It's modern and so incredibly useful when it comes to really thinking about who you are and what you want from life, how to make the best decisions, how to come to your own conclusions, understanding your emotions, looking at things from a different perspective... There's even a chapter about bullying.

I really liked the approach that Christine takes with the worksheets and activities. She didn't take the perspective of an author/adult telling the teen how it is but yet, she took the approach of giving the teen the tools necessary to help figure it out on their own and make their own judgment. It's easier to relate to this way and will be more accepted. No one likes to be ordered around or flat out told what to do.

My favorite chapter was Ch 15 - Living in the Digital Age. I honestly used this tool for my own current life... Wow. Talk about insight. >_<

This book is something that can coincide with or even take the place of a journal... It would be so great to use alongside of a journal... Do people still keep journals? I know I did for YEARS because it truly was the best way to work through feelings and emotions...I can see this type of book being a useful tool for use in various youth programs or even juvenile facilities.

Overall - LOVED IT!

Great Job Christine!!!! I can't wait until this novel is out for sale because I want to get a copy for my Niece for sure!